Optimal Health Uncovered

Healthcare is a rapidly evolving landscape in which wearable technology has emerged as a game changer by offering individuals, an unprecedented opportunity to take control of their well-being. Wearables provide continuous monitoring and personalized insights which aid in exercise performance, recovery, nutrition, and overall stress management.

Wearable technology aids in improving healthcare outcomes in various ways; from Apple Watches to Oura Rings to Whoop Straps, there are plenty of options for everyone.

Join host Michael Beecher and guest Robert Mahlman, physical therapists at Performance, as they discuss how they make the most of wearable devices, and how they use them to improve client care & outcomes.

After the boom in usage of weight loss inhibitors last year by the likes of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and more, it's time to take a step back and look at how these new medications have changed our healthcare landscape.

Personal Trainer Brendan Copley, CSCS, ATC, and Nutritionist Ashley Jerry, MS, tackle the important questions of who should be taking these GLP-1 Agonist medications, concerns to watch out for, what to think about when coming and off the medication, and finally, what other healthy habits should be incorporated into the process to ensure clients stay healthy and achieve the results they were looking for.

How do you get the most out of a golfer? What about a junior golfer? There is no single answer, but a recommended holistic approach to improving performance.

In this episode, host and physical therapist Mike Beecher, PT, DPT, is joined by fellow physical therapist and TPI certified golf expert Michael Semancik, PT, DPT, and John Schmoll, director of junior golf at Burning Tree Country Club, who has decades of experience working with golfers of all ages and helping them improve their golf game.

John, who is a 2x U.S. kids top 15 instructor (going for three title this year to become a master coach) dives into the winning recipe for a junior's successful performance, including hydration and proper nutrition, not specializing from an early age (at least until 13), monitoring anxiety and stress, and making it a fun outside activity, letting kids be kids.

The trio then expand their perspective across all ages, explaining why Titleist Performance Institute golf screens are essential to establish a baseline and pave the path forward for the most efficient golf swing possible. The screen includes mobility and stability tests, as well as an in-depth look at biomechanics and swing inefficiencies.

They also explain a team approach to the golfer is key — assembling a team of golf trainers, golf pros, physical therapists, mental performance consultants, and nutritionists will set the golfer up for success across all aspects of health and performance. 

Setting yourself up for success as early as possible is crucial, yet often overlooked. Host and physical therapist Mike Beecher, DPT, is joined by women's pelvic floor physical therapist Danielle Pasquale, DPT, and nutritionist and lactation consultant Koren Bradshaw, CDN, to discuss why those early years matter so much. They dive into bone health during adolescence and young adulthood, emphasizing a balanced approach to eating and body positivity to prevent future issues. Transitioning into the realm of childbirth, they share insights on the significance of pre/postnatal fitness, safe nutrition practices, and pre/postpartum pelvic health. 

Personal trainer Brendan Copley and mental performance consultant Arianna Martignetti team up once again to discuss the effects of stress on cardiac health. In recognition of heart health month, they shed light behind some of the science on how stress interacts with the cardiovascular system and provide education on stress so that you can increase your ability in managing or having more control over it.

Brendan and Arianna delve into defining both normal healthy cardiovascular health and abnormal cardiovascular health, explore the definitions and responses to stress, and examine how mental well-being can affect cardiovascular health. They also discuss physiological and mental ways individuals experience stress, methods to manage and relieve stress, including exercise, meditation, and breathwork, and the associations of chronic stress with cardiovascular health.

On the final episode of our Marathon Monday mini-series, 5x Boston Marathon Division Winner Heather Pech joins the podcast to talk about her training process and how she keeps winning gold.

Hosts physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley, who are marathoners themselves, discussed what exactly makes Heather such a successful runner — from her nutrition to mentality, Heather breaks down everything that makes her a world record holder.

On the latest episode of our mini-series, Marathon Mondays, physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copely are joined by Megan Searfoss, owner of Ridgefield/Darien Running Company. They discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of running: finding the right pair of shoes for you.

Megan dives into the fitting process that includes a 3D scanner, detailing why the brand and type of shoe matters for the wearer. The trio also discuss the latest trends in footwear, including carbon plating, as well shoe life expectancy and how to deal with companies updating your favorite pair of running shoes.

In the third episode of our Marathon Monday series, physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley dive into the world of mental performance with Arianna Martignetti, Ed.D., who completed her doctorate in sport and performance psychology.

Long distance running is not just a physical activity, but a mental one as well. In this episode, Arianna discusses how to work through negative self-talk, pace management, race-day jitters, visualizations to promote confidence, and  daily mental strategies to promote peak performance, among other topics.

This is the second episode of our series, Marathon Mondays, aimed to prepare runners at all experience levels for their next race, hosted by marathoners themselves: physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley. 

In this episode, Britt and Brendan interview nutritionist Ashley Jerry, who also has a background in personal training. They discuss how to fuel your body during different portions of your training plan, hydration dos and don'ts, as well as pre, during, and post-race nutrition tips. They also dive into the importance of carbohydrates, as well as common causes of GI distress during a run.

This is the first episode of our new series, Marathon Mondays, aimed to prepare runners at all experience levels for their next race, hosted by marathoners themselves: physical therapist Britt Gunsser and personal trainer Brendan Copley. 

In this introductory episode, Britt and Brendan dig into what you should be looking for in a thorough training program, answer frequently asked questions, and debunk common myths. They cover developing a personalized training plan, the importance of different types of runs, how to incorporate strength training, and more.